Christ’s Return and Eternal Reign ValleyU

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Quintin Stieff

Christ’s Return and Eternal Reign THE BIG PICTURE Christians throughout the centuries have looked forward to the physical and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ. • • • • •

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He promised He would return. (Acts 1:11) The early church looked for and longed for his return ((Titus 2:13) There is a dynamic tension in the New Testamet between his “soon” return (Rev 22:20) and his “delayed” return (2 Peter 3:3-13). At the end of the age, Jesus will return physically and visibly in great glory and power. (Mark 13:24-27) Believers in Christ will forever enjoy the presence of the Lord, while unbelievers will be eternally condemned. ((1 Thess 4:13-18; 2 Thess 1:5-10)

THE SMALLER DETAILS: Views on the Millennium POSTMILLENNIALISM Overview 1. Kingdom of God is a present reality—wherever Christ rules in the hearts of men. Not something to be introduced cataclysmically at some present time. 2. Expects conversion of all nations (Jews, too) prior to Christ’s return. 3. Expects long period of peace termed the millennium. 4. Gradual (even slow) growth of the kingdom. Blending into the millennium. 5. At end of millennium, a temporary flare up of evil and apostasy occurs in connection with coming of Antichrist. 6. Millennium ends with personal, bodily return of Christ. 7. At second coming, an immediate resurrection of all, judgment, and then the eternal state. History 1. Church was largely premillennial for 200-300 years after apostles. 2. Tyconius (300s) challenged this. Constantine (312) HRE—Christianity official religion, began to have more spiritualized view of millennium (Rev. 20), expected end to come in 380. 3. His exegesis dominated for approximately next 1300 years. 4. The established church was so strong, not difficult to see why this view pervaded. 5. During the Middle Ages, other views suspected as heretical. 6. In our time (1900s) became more Social Gospel. (Even Nazis claimed the Millennium) 7. Experienced sharp drop in popularity after World War 2. Tenets 1. 2. 3. 4.

Isaiah 45:22-25 / Matthew 24:14 / Matthew 28:19,20 (effective, presence) Look around at conditions. Slavery gone. Prosperity increase, increase of gospel Kingdom in parables. E.g. mustard seed Slow, but sure. Millennium of Rev. 20 is spiritual 1

Evaluation Positive Presence of the kingdom Activism, aggressive, not fatalistic Expects conversion Negative Reality? Matthew 24:9-14 Revelation 20 Tends to water down supernaturalism Selectivity in biblical material A-MILLENNIALISM Overview Some aspects agrees with post-millennialism, some with premillennialism 1. Second Coming will be followed immediately by resurrection, judgment, eternity. The millennium is not a literal 1000 year reign. It is now…hence a-mill, sometimes called realized millennialism). 2. Revelation 20 is primarily symbolic. Both resurrection and millennium are spiritual. 3. OT prophecies are taken less literally 4. Does not expect gradual improvement or Christianization of the world, does expect worsening conditions 5. Has a more imminent view of Jesus’ Second Coming. Not preceded by a long “golden age” History 1. A-millennialism elements present early on (2nd Century?), Augustine (400s) stated millennium not literal 2. Increased in popularity after World War 2 when post-millennialism hit the skids Tenets 1. Revelation
2 resurrections. First is spiritual, second is either bodily or spiritual
1000 years = “completeness” 2. Prophecy – net very literal Evaluation Positive Symbolism appreciated; not as fanatical, crude in interpretation Takes seriously Scriptures which indicate opposition; no golden age Negative Revelation 20 Use of Scripture

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PRE-MILLENNIALISM Overview 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Expect an earthly reign of Christ personally with saints Not gradual, but cataclysmic. Dramatic, external. Begun with 2nd glorious coming of Christ Preceded by deterioration of present earth, not improvement. Expects Great Tribulation – disagreement over whether church is present or not Millennium – Satan bound; Christ rule
earthly peace, Satan released for a season, One last desperate struggle which is defeated 6. Revelation 20 – 2 resurrections are both bodily 1. Believers reign during millennium 2. Everybody at end of millennium 7. Differences: 1. Tribulation/Rapture question 2. Second Coming – one or two phase 3. Jewish flavor of the millennium

History 1. The unquestioned view of the church after the apostles. Exceedingly intense expectation of tribulation, Christ’s return, millennium (earthly). 2. Justin Martyr (100-165): 2 classes of Christians – those who expect the millennium and those who do not expect the millennium Irenaeus (130-200) – Very graphic 3. Lots of date setters 4. Origen (around 200 AD) first to challenge the view. More allegorical, spiritualized interpretation 5. Augustine (400) disagreed, but tolerant. The view (pre-millennialism) gradually lost favor as established church took hold 6. Nevertheless, has had its adherents throughout church history. (Many of them heretics and wackos) 7. Tremendous resurgence in the last 100 years or so Tenets 1. Revelation 20 – both resurrections are bodily 2. Millennium plays significant role in God’s plan a. Shows Christ’s supremacy – he ultimately and completely rules b. Fulfills many OT prophesies (Isaiah 65) 3. Saints truly reign with Christ (Revelation 20) 4. Includes God’s plan to save Israel (Romans 11:15, 16) Evaluation

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Positive Great earnestness for 2nd Coming A more consistent and literal exegesis Revelation 20 – natural understanding Takes seriously Matthew 24, etc. Negative Based largely on Revelation 20 Insists on overly-literal fulfillment of prophesy, when other OT prophecies not so literal Why an earthly reign? Is it really necessary? Why such an understanding of Jewish role?

THE SMALLER DETAILS: Views within Pre-millennialism The Pre-Millennial Return of Christ 1. The Church Age 2. The Great Tribulation Appearance of Anti-Christ Ends with Armageddon (final conflict) 3. The Return of Christ Righteous are resurrected Satan is bound 4. Millennium: Reign of Christ on Earth 5. Satan's Final Defeat Satan is loosed Satan is cast into the lake of fire 6. Judgment of the Unrighteous 7. Eternity THE HISTORIC PRE-MILLENNIAL VIEW OVERVIEW 1. Prior to the Second coming of Christ, believers suffer persecution during the Great Tribulation. 2. Wrath poured out on unbelievers during tribulation, but believers are not subjected to God's wrath. 3. Many Jews and others come to faith in Christ during the Tribulation period. 4. Christ returns at the end of tribulation (bringing departed believers with him). Rapture and Second Coming are the same event. 5. Christ reigns in an earthly millennial kingdom (and many Old Testament prophecies are literally fulfilled through believers in Christ). 6. Blessed hope we await is the coming of Jesus! 7. The elect of God in the Olivet Discourse are believers in Christ. 8. The church is God's covenant people from all ages 4

HISTORY OF THIS VIEW 1. This view was the generally held view in the time following the apostles. 2. Historical examples of this view are common from the time just after the apostles to the present. 3. There is no evidence that any other view was held by pre-millennialists until the 19th century BELIEFS 1. The church is present during the tribulation 2. The Olivet Discourse (Mt 24, Lk 21, Mk 13) pictures a post-tribulation return of Christ. The rapture and the return are the same event. 3. The New Testament clearly tells believers to expect tribulation and to look forward to the return of Christ. (1 Thess. 4:13-5:11; 2 Thess 1). 4. The words used to describe our Lord's return in the New Testament point to a single, glorious, indivisible event. THE DISPENSATIONAL VIEW A DIFFERENT APPROACH A novel approach was introduced in the 19th century to the pre-millennial view. The main differences from the historic view are: 1. God has separate programs for two distinct groups of people: Israel and the church. 2. Jesus Christ offered the millennial kingdom to the Jews but they largely rejected it during his earthly ministry. 3. God then postponed the millennial kingdom and turned his attention to the Gentile world. Out of this, the church was born. 4. Prior to the time of the Great Tribulation, Christ will return in a secret rapture and take all believers to be with him in heaven for seven years. The church will be absent during the Great Tribulation. 5. During the Great Tribulation, God will refocus his attention on the nation of Israel. Many Jews will come to faith in Christ during the tribulation period. 6. At the end of the Tribulation period, Christ will return in glory with departed and raptured believers and will establish an earthly millennial kingdom. 7. Christ reigns in an earthly millennial kingdom (and many Old Testament prophecies directed toward the nation of Israel are literally fulfilled through Jewish believers in Christ). HISTORY OF THIS VIEW 1. The early 19th century saw a return in interest in the historic pre-millennial view. 2. A novel approach to pre-millennialism was introduced to the world in about 1825 through a Bible teacher named John Darby and the Plymouth Brethren movement. This approach to Scripture became known as dispensationalism. 3. The rise spread of dispensationalism. 4. There is no evidence that this view was held by any person at all prior to the 19th century OVERVIEW 1. Jesus Christ returns secretly prior to the Great Tribulation and raptures believers into heaven. They remain with Christ in heaven until the Great Tribulation is completed. 2. Believers in Christ (who trust in Christ during the tribulation) suffer persecution during tribulation. 5

3. Wrath poured out on unbelievers during tribulation, but believers are not subjected to God's wrath. 4. Christ returns at the end of tribulation (bringing departed and raptured believers with him.) 5. Christ reigns in an earthly millennial kingdom (and many Old Testament prophecies are literally fulfilled through Jewish believers in Christ). 6. Blessed hope we await is either the rapture and/or the glorious Second Coming of Christ. 7. The elect of God in the Olivet Discourse are primarily Jewish believers in Christ. 8. God has a separate program for Jewish believers (Israel) and for the largely Gentile church. BELIEFS 1. Believers throughout all ages have many points in common, but God has dealt differently with people in various dispensations. 2. The touchstone of dispensationalism is a radical distinction between Israel and the church. God has a separate and distinct program for each group. 3. The Olivet Discourse (Mt 24, Lk 21, Mk 13) pictures a post-tribulation return of Christ. However, the dispensational view is that Christ is speaking to his disciples not as believers in Christ, but as representatives of the nation of Israel during the tribulation period. 4. The church is removed from earth prior to the Great Tribulation by a secret return of Christ to the earth and a rapture of believers to heaven. EVALUATION 1. The historic view of the pre-millennial return of Christ is that Jesus will return after the Tribulation for his church and begin the earthly millennial reign. 2. The newer view is the dispensational view: • God has totally distinct programs for Israel and another group of believers called "the church." The church and Israel are two distinct groups -- always and forever. • Christ will return in a secret coming and rapture "the church" before the Great Tribulation. During the Tribulation, God deals primarily with Israel. • Christ returns publicly at the End of the Tribulation with "the church" and begins the Millennial kingdom on earth. The burden of proof, it seems, would fall on the dispensationalists, since the view is not well-attested historically. 3. So, several issues must be resolved in order to adopt a dispensational viewpoint, and thus, a pretribulational rapture of the church. Otherwise, the historic pre-millennial view seems the more natural reading of the Bible. ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH 1. Does the Bible teach totally separate and distinct programs for Israel and the church? 2. Or does the Bible teach that, while there is a future for ethnic Israel, the promises made to Israel are being realized by those who have faith in the Messiah (i.e. the church)? 3. Rom. 9-11; Eph. 2:11-22; Eph. 3:1-6; Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:7-13; Heb 10:16-18; 1Pt. 2:4-10; Gal. 6:16; Heb. 12:22-24; Rom. 11:17-21 KEY PASSAGES Read the key passages on the Second Coming of Christ. If you do not assume ahead of time totally separate programs for Israel and the church, would you arrive at a pre-tribulation rapture or a post-tribulation rapture? 6

WORDS ABOUT THE LORD'S RETURN The words used to describe our Lord's return in the New Testament are His coming (parousia), His revelation (apokalupsis) and His appearing (epiphaneia). Looking at all of the occurrences of these words, are you led to believe in a two-stage return of Christ (secret pre-tribulation rapture, then public Second Coming) OR are you led to believe in a single, indivisible glorious event? COMING (parousia): Mt. 24:3, 27-39; 1Thess. 4:13-17; 2Thess. 2:1-11; 2Pt. 3:3-13 REVELATION (apokalupsis): 1Cor. 1:7-8; 2Thess. 1:6,7; 1Pt. 1:7,13, 4:13; APPEARING (epiphaneia): 2Thess. 2:8; 1Tim. 6:14; 2Tim. 1:10; 4:1,8; Tit. 2:13 CLEARING THE CLUTTER 1. The main thing to remember is that Jesus Christ is coming back! Some of the details are difficult to untangle. We should be charitable, gracious, humble, and loving toward everyone, regardless of their views on the details. 2 Tim. 2:14-15 - Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2. We should look forward to His return! 1 Peter 4:7-8 - The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 2 Peter 3:11-13 - Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 3. The timing and sequence of the last days The scriptures clearly teach that Christ will bodily return to earth at the end of the present age. His return is imminent, and therefore, is an encouragement for the believer to live a godly life. I believe in a pre-millennial return of Christ. Prior to His Second Coming, there will be a seven-year period of unprecedented tribulation. Also, large numbers of ethnic Israel will turn to the Lord and be incorporated into the Body of Christ. At His return, Christ will set up His earthly millennial reign, as He gathers those alive in Christ and raises those dead in Christ. As to the timing of all the events of the last days, certainly there are differences among believers. I have a deep respect for those who hold to various positions on the exact timing of the rapture of the saints to be with Christ. Personally, I hold to a post-tribulation rapture. That is, the church will be taken up to be with Christ after the seven-year tribulation. I list my reasons: 7

Post-Tribulation Rapture 1. It is a simple and natural reading of the biblical text, especially those key passages that directly address the rapture and the second coming of Christ. 2. It is the historic and ancient view of pre-millennialists. The history of interpretation shows clearly that early pre-millennialists were post-tribulationists. In fact, there is no evidence that anyone proposed a pre-tribulation rapture until around 1825. Of course history does not prove anything -- the Bible is our final authority. I only point out that the clear teaching of a pre-tribulation rapture is of recent origin. The historic view of the church is post-tribulationism. 3. It rests on a sound understanding of the relationship between the church and Israel. A pretribulation rapture position presupposes separate programs for Israel and the church. In fact, the pretrib rapture position heavily rests on a radical distinction between Israel and the church. I believe that while there is a future for ethnic Israel, it does not appear from Scripture that Israel is in a totally separate program from the church. Rather, I believe that Scripture teaches some distinctions between the church and Israel. In the end, however, the people of God are one people. If this is true, then a post-tribulation rapture seems clearly indicated by the Bible. Passages like the Olivet Discourse will be understood to teach a posttribulation rapture. (To put it another way, one's rapture position is determined by one's understanding of the relationship between Israel and the church.) 4. The words used to describe our Lord's return in the New Testament are His coming (parousia), His revelation (apokalupsis) and His manifestation (epiphaneia). Looking at all of the occurrences of these words leads me to believe in a single, indivisible glorious event. (This view is in contrast to a view that sees two events: a secret pre-trib rapture, then a public coming in glory.) 5. The commands to be "sober", "vigilant", "watchful", "awake", and "ready" in the New Testament are associated with the glorious second coming of Christ (which all pre-millennialists agree comes after the Great Tribulation). One of the main criticisms of the post-tribulation rapture view is that it seemingly undercuts the biblical commands to be ready for the imminent coming of Christ. But upon close examination we see that the commands for readiness are not associated with a pretribulation rapture at all. These commands to be ready and watchful are associated with the glorious second coming of Christ after the Tribulation. Even if one holds to the pre-trib rapture, there are definitely commands that tell us to be watchful and ready for the Second Coming (not the rapture). (An example would be 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.) So both tribulation camps (pre-trib and post-trib) have to explain "watching" and "being ready" for an event that occurs after the seven-year Great Tribulation. I do believe in the imminent return of Christ in that at any moment the whole complex of events culminating in the return of Jesus could begin -- even today. (It is also possible that these events could have begun without our being completely aware of it.) Therefore, I need to be spiritually awake, ready, and watchful for my Lord's return. The Blessed Hope I long for is the return of my Savior in glory. "He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."

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SCRIPTURES FOR STUDY on Israel and the Church 1 Peter 2:4-10 As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For in Scripture it says:

Romans 4:11-12 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

"See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

Galatians 3:6-9 Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." 7Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 8The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." 9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

7Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone," 8and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall."

Galatians 3:26-29 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

They stumble because they disobey the message-which is also what they were destined for. 9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Galatians 6:15-16 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. 16Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.

Romans 9:6-8 It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." 8In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 32It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them," declares the LORD. 33"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.

Romans 2:28-29 A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

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I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

Ephes. 2:8-22 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 11Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)-12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Hebrews 8:7-13 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8But God found fault with the people and said: "The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 9It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. 10This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." 13By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.

Matthew 24:1-51 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2"Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down." 3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" 4Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see

Hebrews 10:16-18 "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." 17Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." 18And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. 10

30"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. 32"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. 45"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' 49and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains. 9"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. 15"So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand-- 16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. 18Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. 19How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again. 22If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. 24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible. 25See, I have told you ahead of time. 26"So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. 27For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. 29"Immediately after the distress of those days " 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'

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is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power 10on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you. 11With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 12We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2:1Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 5Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

1 Thes. 4:13-5:11 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words. 5:1Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 2 Thes. 1:3-2:12 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. 4Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. 5All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6God 12

Three NT Words used to describe the Lord’s return so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 5Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

COMING Matthew 24:3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Matthew 24:27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Matthew 24:37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Matthew 24:39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Peter 3:3-13 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." 5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

1 Thes. 4:13-17 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 2 Thes. 2:1-11 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, 13

REVELATION, REVEAL

APPEARING

1 Cor. 1:7-8 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thes. 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 1 Tim. 6:14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 Thes. 1:6 -7 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.

2 Tim. 1:10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

1 Peter 1:7 These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

2 Tim. 4:1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:

1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be selfcontrolled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

2 Tim. 4:8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

Titus 2:13 while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

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